Specialized
Crossroads Armadillo ATB Tire
Tire

Product Description

From unpaved paths to the city streets, this Crossroads Armadillo 26" tire performs reliably and consistently with a smooth center tread section and substantial side knobs for traction and off-road stability. Reinforced against punctures with Specialized’s world-famous proprietary Armadillo armored casing.

User Reviews

Strengths: I have two of these tires. The rear tire is doing great, no issues. It is a heavy duty tire and I have had no flats over two years.

Weaknesses: My front tire is another story. The tread is still near the original depth, but it is separating from the tire core. In spots is is almost completely off and I can lift an edge with my finger. In other areas you can see the tire web below the tread. I am an occasional weekend rider on the katy trail in MO and the creeper trail in VA. I keep my bike indoors and in good condition.

Bottom Line:

After paying almost what an auto tire costs for each of these tires, I'm really disappointed in the tire with the tread separation. Based on that experience, I cannot recommend this tire. I wish this review site allowed pictures to be posted... I would be happy to show the problem.

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Submitted by
Damian Montaño

Date Reviewed: January 14, 2014

Strengths: Highly resistent to thorns.

Weaknesses: It's perfect

Bottom Line:

It's the best bike tire I have seen.

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Submitted by
Anchorage Rider
a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: July 9, 2013

Strengths: Never get flats, decent rolling resistance, very long tread life (at 8000 and still going...) in a commuting application, about 2000 miles a year. Wide pressure range tolerance. These tires are good for those that prioritize long life and flat resistance over weight - commuters, distance riders, tour leaders.

Weaknesses: Significant investment initially, especially if you do both ends. But worth every dime!!!!! May be heavy for some apps but I ride for every reason but speed! The weight is not a bug, it's a feature for getting it off me! When the 10,000 grams are gone off me I might take a look at a tire that's a 100 grams lighter. Maybe not.

Bottom Line:

I got tired of flats or close calls. They are never convenient, just varying degrees of pain! Did some research, figured if the Armadillos's lived up to half of what was out there for reviews they would work. Got six from the LBS as I have three 29'ers. He gave me a discount for the bulk purchase, I got airline miles AND no more flats. Closest I have come is in Arizona where I had one slow leak from a thorn that managed to finally work it's way through. There I find that there is no such thing as too much thorn protection - I run the Armadillo's with Tuffy liners and Slime tubes. Seems to be the ticket; only have a couple of thousand miles around Phoenix and no fast flats. The only other thing left for the Southwest and other thorn places is to go to the thick, thorn resistant tubes. So far I don't feel the need to go that far. The other two bikes are Novara's, one a hybrid and one a road bike. The hybrid is a commuter with around 13,000 miles on it, mostly with the Armadillo's. Have had them long enough to not recall when I got them but do know there have not been any flats at all since and figure 4 years back. The tread is still good on the rear of the hybrid, may swap it out with the front later this year. The road bike was a handme down, use it a few times a year, particulary to do a hundred mile ride with a Scout troop in the summer. A bit heavy for that ride but again, no flats while many around me are fixing tires and I don't sweat gravel patches and root gardens. Have had no snake bites either; there was one stretch that was easy to get them. Can run a wide range of tire pressures, up to 90 for max performance, down to 50 or 60 works too. A bit squishy in the 50 range. I used to replace tires at two or three thousand miles or have to swap front to back at a minimum. And there was the flat issue - one spring I came home three times in a row with fast leaks. No more. So overall, worth every dime just in tire life alone, flat free, Priceless!

Strengths: Rolls over pavement so easy. Puncture proof, at least for me so far.

Weaknesses: Only lasted 8000 miles, still have tread left but the rubber is cracking, pretty much like all tires eventually do.Otherwise no real weaknesses.

Bottom Line:

I commute to work on my MTB, about 150 miles a week. In over 8000 miles I have had zero puncture flats. I did have 2 tubes blow, but both times it was on the rim side. Couple of reviews mentioned the weight so I just weighted mine, 959 grams. I much prefer going out and getting back flat free with a heavier tire than saving a little weight and end up patching a tire or having to walk miles. Heck, I weight over 90,880 grams, if I cared about the weight I'd loose some. Paid less that $90 for the new set, worth every penny.

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Submitted by
Dev9172
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto ont Canada

Date Reviewed: March 24, 2012

Strengths: A very nice tire . Ride well . No flats so far .

Weaknesses: To much money in Canada . $60 for 1 . A bit heavy but not much . A bit more of a workout but I need that .

Bottom Line:

Im happy I got them . I was getting flats all the time . Let see how good they are over the summer .

Strengths: Changed from Bontrager offroad race tires due to 9 flats in 3 weeks. These armadillos have been perfect in the two months, not a blip or hiccup, and no damage in hundreds of miles. These will be long lasting as they still have virtually no wear. The Bontragers had chunks coming off the knobs within the first week.

A bit faster on the road with same effort by 1-2mph.

Weaknesses: A bit stiff, and much heavier than their website advertises. These are the Elite version that are supposed to be lighter weight..advertised as 745g, mine were ~850g each.

These are not race tires by any means, and coming from race tires required an adjustment in riding technique. Better offroad grip than I would have thought from the tread pattern, spinning only on the steepest bits, and tends to plow on turns...a few skinned elbows taught me to slow down.

Bottom Line:

Great looks, a bit pricey at first at $60 each but zero flats in hundreds of miles of on and offroad riding. Still look like new. A great compromise tire for both on and offroad, and great flat protection.

I have used these tires for years on my MTB commuter and a comfort bike. I have logged thousands of miles on trails, rocks, goat heads, glass, without a single flat.
One set I have over 3000 miles. The price is kind of high but at what price do you sit by the hwy fixing a flat? Walk you bike out of the woods because you dont have a pump?

No knobs in the center can be trouble on steep grades. But these aren't true mountain tires. Smooth on pavement.

Submitted by
saigonpaul
a Weekend Warrior
from weatherford, texas, usa

Date Reviewed: September 5, 2010

Strengths: Smooth, Smooth, and the right price for NO FLATS!!!!!!!!!!

Weaknesses: None as of yet

Bottom Line:

Crossroads Armadillo Tire are by far the best of the best. I go out of my way to ride "WHERE NO ONE WILL GO" and to date, NO FLATS!!!!!! I have them on the front and rear and there are no other tires backing me up. Come on guys, be real, you will never see the girl down the path, while you are fixing a flat!! On the pavement they are super with the BUMP BUMP BUMP of the knobs from the DIRT BIKE TIRES, just SMOOOOOOTH.

Submitted by
ricecake7
a Cross Country Rider
from Salt Lake City, Utah

Date Reviewed: April 6, 2010

Strengths: Tough! Smooth rolling!

Weaknesses: Heavy!

Bottom Line:

I got these because I was getting like two flats a week while riding to work (I hate goat heads!) and these puppies definitely stopped that. Heck I road through a patch of goat heads one day and had about a hundred stuck on my tires but just kept on riding without a problem! They really are tough! My problem with them is that they are really pretty dang heavy, like 900g or something. As soon as I put these on I instantly noticed how much heavier my bike felt. If only you could get the great protection without the weight!

Compared to the Nimbus, its not as fast but corners better. With the bigger tire, takes bumps and potholes much better that I take my bike deep into the dirt trails off the AR Bike Trail (until I found out it was illegal). I rolled over patches of goatheads. I pulled out maybe 50 of the goathead thorns with one nasty one that got through in a corner of a knob and pounded in. But it took me home, didn't discover the flat until the next day. Thanks to these tires, my comfort bike became a rough road tourer. I just hope my Nexus hub can take the load.

I purchased these tires for use on a commuter bike. I was attracted to the "Armadillo" puncture resistance and low rolling resistance on pavement. I was also looking for a tire that I could use on urban hardpack when necessary. I am very happy with these tires. The only drawback is a low hum on smooth surfaces (new concrete, new asphalt, etc). But, that can easily be overlooked for the versatility and ruggedness of this tire. The price could be a little better. But compared to, say, Shwalbe tires, these are a pretty good deal.

Submitted by
commuterbiker
a Weekend Warrior
from Cedar City, UT, U.S.

Date Reviewed: June 16, 2008

Strengths: Fast tire, much better than the trail tires I had for commuting. Flat resistant. Good commuter tire.

Weaknesses: A little pricey, but worth the extra

Bottom Line:

I usually don't write product reviews. But today I could hear some noise coming from my back tire on my way to work. I stopped and found a nail sticking directly out of my tire that I had been repeatedly running over for at least a hundred yards or so. I pulled the nail out and there was no flat, it did not make it through the tread. I was amazed that I could run a nail over that many times without a puncture.

A great tire. I just had to write a review after not having to change my tube today!

Strengths: Runs as a very high pressure so it rolls efficiently. Still has enough meat to absorb some of the asphalt bumps and knocks.

Weaknesses: Haven't found any yet

Bottom Line:

This is my commuter bike and I was running Conti Town & Country tires for the longest time but they are a bit pricey so I tried the cheaper Country Ride. Flatted out too many times so I asked my LBS for a recommendation. They hooked me up with the Crossroads for $50/pair and these things will ride over anything. There is a lot of glass and shrapnel on my commute and the Armadillo casing combined with the beefy tread handles it all. And they are a fast, fast tire; especially for something with that much tread.